Alone in the Dark

I'd never played any of the previous four AITD video games so I figured I'd be lost an unable to keep up with this one, but the previews looked good so I added it to my wishlist, where it remained until the price came down.

You play as Edward Carnby, a man who has lost his memory. Edward wakes up in a crumbling Central Park West apartment building. A supernatural force is ripping through the walls and turning the inhabitants into mutated killers. A huge earthquake rips Manhattan apart and on top of that there are ugly monsters spawning all over the park. It's all part of a prophecy (yawn) in which Edward must prevent Lucifer from entering into the world.

The plot is mostly mumbo-jumbo. But the main strength of the game is the oppressive, claustrophobic atmosphere that turns a supposedly safe environment bustling with people (Manhattan island) into a lonely, apocalyptic nightmare. As a survival horror it's not as good as the Resident Evil series, and it doesn't have tension that made those games so good. I never felt scared to look around a corner or felt fear of what was lurking in the darkness beyond the character's view. But it's fast moving enough and gives you plenty of monsters to shoot at (though it's never satisfying enough and totally bloodless). It's also the 86th game in a row I've played that features Central Park.

Despite my complaining, I never got bored with the game or felt it was hard to control (I played the PS3 version, which improves on the Xbox 360 release). Though when driving around a shrub or a bush is completely impenetrable to a two-ton car and it's kinda infuriating. The fact that trophies are handed out left, right and centre makes up for it.

The ending hints at a sequel, which has yet to materialize. But AITD is a fine way to spend a few bucks and a few days playing.

Graphics B+ Sound B- Gameplay B Lasting Appeal B

I've had this game for the 360 since middle school. I am now 22, married and cannot beat this game because it's tricky and terrifying! Story's really really good though and won't stop playing till I beat it or my Xbox 360 succumbs to the red eye of death.

I have played this for PS3, and it is a good game but it is not a horror game and it has hardly anything to do with the other games in the series. The game from 2001 called The New Nightmare is a great horror game based on the writings of H. P. Lovecraft. This game is just an action game. There is hardly anything that makes it into a horror game. It is hard to understand why they would not try to satisfy the horror fans of the genre. Instead this is more into the action genre. I do not really have much to say other than that. They might as well not have made the game if they did not intend to make a great horror game. Clearly fans of the series are expecting great horror in an Alone in the Dark game.

this game i was waiting for release it i just found it in the market yesterday and ofcaurse i buy it whatever! the game is nice specially the sound tracks and the secrets are easy but the end of the game is very bad its have no meaning i was about to cry when i see the game credit its not cool end. any way this game mixed its have some parts like prince of Persia and some other times like tomb rider beside its like silent hill. anyway i give this game rate 5 because the control is not very good beside its give the player high tension and drive inside the game is not cool at all. advice to you if you going to play this game don't be very xited just play it for fun i mean come on i finish it in just 6 hours. good luck players i hope somebody enjoy it:P

This video game had plenty of potential and was even the most awaited Horror-Action game in 2008. Was it worth the wait? My sincere answer, with all the pain in my heart is no.

I'm a huge fan of the original PC games because those were extremely interesting and mixed creepiness with inventive and fun game play. You didn't get tired of them.

With the new millennium consoles you might think that graphics, game play, and plot should be spectacular, awesome in terms of quality... ...this game tried too hard but failed on all aspects.

The worst thing about it is the tedious, exasperating game play. You just don't get used to the controls because in some important moments you need to put in practice your survival skills in video games but with such complex button combinations and joystick action; you just don't get into the game's atmosphere.

The plot is surely interesting and gives plenty of territory to explore for the gamer. I thought it was as great idea of driving into the city and exploring the most bizarre places on it but things tend to get repetitive and boring after a while.

The graphics are spectacular and make justice to the new consoles but remember, graphics and powerful sound do not assure a great game overall.

This game tried too hard but failed big time. There's nothing else to add.